UHVHNP0014 Myths and stereotypes in Czech national historiography

Faculty of Philosophy and Science in Opava
Summer 2025
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 3 credit(s). Type of Completion: z (credit).
Teacher(s)
Mgr. Igor Zmeták, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Igor Zmeták, Ph.D. (seminar tutor)
Guaranteed by
Mgr. Igor Zmeták, Ph.D.
Institute of Historical Sciences – Faculty of Philosophy and Science in Opava
Prerequisites
Masters students.
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The aim of the seminar is to reflect the gradual dissolution of older narrow national paradigms which shaped the view of the past and to offer possibilities of their re-interpretation. The course shall provide the students with competencies to critically explore and interpret the prejudices and stereotypes in the Czech national historiography. These petrified schemata are widespread and it is likely that students will be confronted with them in their professional lives. Attention will be also paid to the themes that have been traditionally marginalized or avoided and thus erased from the national memory.
Learning outcomes
The aim of the seminar is to reflect the gradual dissolution of older narrow national paradigms which shaped the view of the past and to offer possibilities of their re-interpretation. The course shall provide the students with competencies to critically explore and interpret the prejudices and stereotypes in the Czech national historiography. These petrified schemata are widespread and it is likely that students will be confronted with them in their professional lives. Attention will be also paid to the themes that have been traditionally marginalized or avoided and thus erased from the national memory.
Syllabus
  • 1. Introduction 2. Mythological thinking 3. Mythology and culture 4. Mythology and history 5. National mythology in historiography 6-9.Intersection of historiography and mythology - selected topics 10. All-Slavic unity 11. The myth of a happy period of socialism 12.-13.Racial mythology and racial theories
Literature
    required literature
  • Magris, C. Habsburský mýtus v moderní rakouské literatuře. Praha 2001. info
  • FRAZER, J.G.:. Zlatá ratolest. Praha 1994. info
  • MACURA, Vladimír. Šťastný věk. Symboly, emblémy a mýty 1948-1989. Praha: Pražská imaginace, 1992. info
    recommended literature
  • Kopal, Petr (ed.). Film a dějiny. Praha 2005. info
  • Bartlová, M. Je možné psát jiné než nacionalistické dějiny umění? Dějiny - teorie - kritika 2, 2005, 2, s. 247-254. info
  • Řezníková, L. Moderna & historismus. Historické reprezentace v proměnách literatury na přelomu devatenáctého a dvacátého století. Praha 2004. info
  • Šima, K. Národní slavnosti šedesátých let 19. století jako performativní akty konstruování národní identity. ČČH 104, 2006, 1, s. 91-110. info
  • Vocelka, K. Otázky výzkumu 18. století v habsburské monarchii ve světle nejnovější metodologické diskuse, ČMM 121, 2002, 2, 433-449. info
  • Bartlová, Milena (ed.). Pop history. O historické věrohodnosti románů, filmů, komiksů a počítačových her. Praha 2003. info
  • Woitsch, J. Ta naše chaloupka česká. Proměny mýtu lidové architektury. Dějiny a současnost 30, 2008, č. 6, s. 30-33. info
  • Řepa, M. (ed.). 19. století v nás. Praha, 2008. info
  • Macura, V. Český sen. Praha 1998. Praha, 1998. info
  • RAK, J. Bývali Čechové: české historické mýty a stereotypy. HaH, Jinočany, 1994. info
Teaching methods
The course will consist of lectures and seminars - the active participation of students in all forms of teaching is expected, as well as independent study of compulsory and recommended literature. The seminars will be supplemented by documentary material (photographs, pictorial material, video recordings, a visit to the current museum exhibition)
Assessment methods
The condition for granting credits is active participation in the course, independent processing and presentation of selected topics at the seminar
Language of instruction
Czech
The course is also listed under the following terms Summer 2022, Summer 2023, Summer 2024.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Summer 2025, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.slu.cz/course/fpf/summer2025/UHVHNP0014